Analysis: In his sixth stint as a major leaguer, 27-year-old Max Stassi enjoyed a breakout first half before plummeting post All-Star break.

Stassi garnered Rookie of the Year honors from the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He played in 88 games and started more games behind the plate than any of the Astros' four catchers who saw time this season.

Rated as one of the best pitch framers in the game by Baseball Prospectus, Stassi made only two errors in 82 games as a catcher. Offensively, he OPSed .848 in 35 road starts while bludgeoning lefthanded pitching early in the season. His 90 mph average exit velocity was the hardest among all the Astros with at least 100 balls in play.

Stassi's presence was invaluable while Brian McCann combated a nagging knee injury and a dearth of acceptable talent within the organization manifested itself in June and July.

The Astros rectified it at the trade deadline, acquiring Martin Maldonado to reinforce the position. His arrival spelled the end for Stassi — who started only 18 games in the second half and did not make either of the Astros' two playoff rosters.

Still, Stassi's emergence was comforting heading into the offseason. He and recent waiver claim Chris Herrmann are the only two players on the 40-man roster with catching experience. General manager Jeff Luhnow exuded optimism about Stassi during the general manager meetings.

"But we need to get him some help," he acknowledged.

Best moment: Stassi had never started more than six major league games in a season. In his 12th start at catcher this year, with the Astros' newest acquisition on the mound, Stassi caught the best pitched game of the season.

On May 4, Stassi navigated Gerrit Cole through his complete game, 16-strikeout, one-hit masterpiece against the Diamondbacks.

Contract status: Stassi remains under team control and is not arbitration eligible until 2020.

Chandler Rome joined the Houston Chronicle in 2018 to cover the Astros after spending one year in Tuscaloosa covering Alabama football — during which Nick Saban asked if he attended college. He did, at LSU, where he covered the Tigers baseball team for nearly four years. He covered most of the Astros' 2015 playoff run, too, as an intern for MLB.com